Manny Pacquiao v Timothy Bradley III – as it happened

That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us. Be sure to check back later for a full report.

5.53am BST

When asked if he is retired, Pacquiao is clear: “Yes, I am retired.” He adds, “I want to go home to my family and serve the people. I love the fans and thank them for all the support they’ve given me.”

5.44am BST

Here’s a look at the official scorecard. The judges only saw half of the 12 rounds the same way, yet they each arrived at the same score.

Pacquiao landed 112 of 439 punches (28%) compared to 99 of 302 (33%) for Bradley according to CompuBox. The most telling number is Bradley’s average punches thrown per round. It was 25 tonight – down from 52 in the second fight and 70 in the first.

5.34am BST

Kellerman asks Bradley what happened on the knockdowns. “I don’t even remember, man,” he says. Kellerman helpfully points to a monitor. First, the sixth-round flash knockdown: “That wasn’t really a knockdown, he kind of pushed me dwon with his glove.”

Then the monitor shows footage of the second knockdown: “Ooh! Yeah, he caught me good with that one.”

Adds Bradley: “[Pacquiao] is very quick, very explosive, it’s hard to really judge him. And he’s experienced. He used his experience against me.”

5.31am BST

Pacquiao’s in-ring interview with HBO’s Max Kellerman is being drowned out by cheers in the arena. “Every round I’m looking for the knockdown,” Pacquiao says. Kellerman asks him about possibly fighting Canelo or Mayweather, but Manny hardly takes the bait.

Round 12

Bradley lands a counter right. Crowd on their feet with a minute left – perhaps the last minute of Pacquiao’s career – urging their man to close the show. He tries to lunge in but Bradley wraps him up. A hard shot by Pacquiao rattles Bradley near the end but Bradley nicks the final frame on activity. Shouldn’t matter though. There’s the bell. Bradley hugs Freddie Roach then Pacquiao.

Round 11

I’m told Bradley’s wife has left her ringside seat. A fire seems to have gone out with Bradley. He’s now circling Pacquiao and reverted to pawing with the jab. Pacquiao darting left to right and picking his spots, not pressing the attack. Bradley lands a right that moves Pacquiao back a bit, but that’s just about it. He’s going to need more – a lot more – to turn this tide. Not the most lopsided round but Pacquiao did more.

Round 10

Bradley realizing he needs a knockput to win and that’s put him in vulnerable position. He’s missing wildly. Pacquiao not making him pay with every miss but he’s doing enough to score, mostly with left hands. Nothing from Bradley that round. It’s looking more and more like Manny’s night.

Round 9

Bradley lands an uppercut to start the ninth, but the pace has slowed. And Pacquiao drops Bradley again – this time there’s no doubt about it! – a counter left in the center of the ring lands flush dumps the American to the canvas and the entire crowd of 14,655 is on their feet. A wonderful counterpunch that sends Bradley almost into a reverse somersaunt as he crashes to the canvas. Bradley is hurt! He beats the count and now Pacquiao is going for the kill. Bradley makes it to the bell. High drama in Las Vegas!

Round 8

A slow start quickly gives way to more two-way action. Good right hand by Bradley but Pacquiao answers with a flurry of punches. Bradley tags Pacquiao with a massive right hand that stops him in his tracks. Pacquiao is hurt! The crowd is rocking, cheering for Manny but also chants for Bradley. Pacquiao in full retreat. Best round of the fight for the American.

Round 7

It’s Pacquiao who strikes first, a left-right combo upstairs, and darts outside before Bradley can answer. Good work from Bradley here, who is measuring and using head movement to keep Pacquiao at bay. And down goes Bradley! A short right hook did it. A flash knockdown. The crowd is going wild! Replay confirms the right didn’t connect flush and it could have been ruled a slip, yet the referee’s ruling stands and Bradley faces an uphill climb.

Round 6

The sixth doesn’t exactly pick up where the fifth left off. A slow start. Good flurry by Bradley gets Manny’s attention. Just over a minute left and Pacquiao darts in with another combo and the crowd screams with delight. A nice combo upstairs by Bradley but unclear how cleanly it landed. A very close round that could go either way, one of several swing rounds that could see scores all over the map if it goes the full 12 rounds. Manny looks faster and is starting to find his range. Bad news for Bradley, who is looking more and more apprehensive.

Round 5

Bradley has backed up Pacquiao along the ropes and opens fire, connecting with a chopping right. A right-left combination for Bradley and now the corwd is cheering his name. And here comes Pacquiao – out of nowhere! He’s pouring it on in the center of the ring and the crowd is on their feet! Wow! They trade left hooks. And just like that a fight has broken out! Manny is lighting Bradley up with rapid-fire combinations. For a brief moment the Pacquiao of old. The bell rings and Teddy Atlas is in the ring screaming at Bradley before his charge can even take his stool. Best round of the fight easily.

Round 4

Both fighters throwing if not landing more in bursts of action. Pacquiao throws a series of quick combinations upstairs with Bradley absorbing some and parrying the rest. A stinging left hand for Pacquiao, his best punch of the fight. Thirty seconds remaining in the round and Pacquiao is opening up. A great round for the Filipino. Not a crowd-pleaser but an interesting first act.

Round 3

Pacquiao throws a left with bad intentions that just Bradley nearly swerves but it connects. The fighters are opening up here in the third and the crowd is loving it. Bradley misses wildly with a hook, but connects with a vicious right. Still awfully quiet in between the exchanges. Pacquaio showing good hand speed when he throws, using the jab with better effect here. Bradley with a left to the abdomen. Not quite enough. Pacquiao takes it.

Round 2

Bradley still looking to establish the jab whie Pacquiao looking to ... well, it’s not quite certain. A tactical opening, to put it charitably. Pacquiao trying to cut off the ring but Bradley using shifty lateral movement to subvert the efforts. A nice inside uppercut by Bradley followed by an inside hook. Good shot by the American. Pacquiao fires back with a one-two combo but Bradley darts safely out of range. Bradley misses and Pacquiao counters inside with a compact left hand. Another close round we’ll tip to Bradley.

Round 1

And the 25th round of the trilogy begins. Pacquiao nearly halfway across the ring when the bell rings, looking to be the aggressor. The fighters circle one another pawing with jabs. Bradley connects with a left jab to the face. Not much action so far. Cheers of Manny! Manny! but crowd quiets waiting for a landed punch. Strangely quiet in the arena. A poor round. Difficult to score, but an overly patient Pacquiao managed to do less.

Guardian’s unofficial score: Pacquiao 9-10 Bradley

4.36am BST

The ring announcer is introducing the fighters. A mixed reception for Bradley but not nearly as negative as before their second fight. Massive cheers for Pacquiao. And more cheers of Manny! Manny! as referee Tony Weeks gives the final instructions.

4.32am BST

Now it’s Pacquiao’s turn. Lights go down and the highlight reel set to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck that’s been a staple of his pre-intro plays. Now he emerges from the tunnel to remix of Katy Perry’s Roar mashed up with Eye of the Tiger, an ear-to-ear grin across his face. Loud chants of Manny! Manny! as he climbs through the ropes.

4.30am BST

Timothy Bradley is making the long walk to the ring. The song is New Level by ASAP Ferg ft. Future. Looks confident.

4.26am BST

Here’s a look at tonight’s tale of the tape. The fighters will be making their ringwalks any minute now.

Anthem time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. First it’s Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem of the Philippines, performed by the World Choir of the Philippines. Recently minted American Idol winner Trent Harmon will sing The Star-Spangled Banner.

4.18am BST

Gilberto Ramirez defeats Arthur Abraham by unanimous decision

Ramirez has defeated Abraham by a unanimous decision to capture Abraham’s WBO super middleweight championship. All three ringside judges scored it 120-108 – a complete shutout – as did the Guardian. Ramirez becomes the first ever super middleweight champion from Mexico.

Ramirez connected with 114 of 532 punches (27%) compared to 85 of 441 (19%) for Abraham.

4.08am BST

We’re into the final round of the last prelim bout before the main event and matters have not improved for Arthur Abraham. Ramirez is landing at will and building up a lopsided points lead – the Guardian has it 110-99 – with the champion’s face betraying a look of resignation. Barring a miracle, Ramirez will be the new WBO super middleweight champion in three minutes’ time.

This guy Abraham is terrible it's amazing these fighters in Germany get all this free money there but how many of them can actually fight?

We’re at the midpoint of the final undercard bout and the challenger is giving Abraham all he can handle. Ramirez’s reach and hand speed have asked questions of the 36-year-old champion he’s proven ill-equipped to answer. The Guardian has scored it a 60-54 shutout so far, though Abraham did enjoy his best round of the fight in the sixth.

Here’s a look at the odds at the MGM Grand sports book as of two hours ago. Bradley is a slight +180 underdog, meaning a $100 wager would yield a $180 payout. Pacquiao is a -230 favorite, meaning a punter must put down $230 in order to win $100. Will be interesting to see which way the late action puts it when the market closes in the next half hour or so.

3.32am BST

How’s this for counter-programming? In case you thought Floyd Mayweather had patched things up with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum – who promotes Pacquiao and at one point promoted Mayweather before their acrimonious split in 2007 – think again. Mayweather’s promotional outfit shared an image on Instagram shortly before tonight’s pay-per-view telecast went on the air in a somewhat clumsy but no doubt hilarious attempt to divert viewers to a NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Updated at 3.39am BST

3.18am BST

The last fight of an eight-bout undercard is about to begin. That old war horse Arthur Abraham (44-4, 29 KOs) is making his way to the ring to defend his WBO super middleweight championship against the unbeaten Gilberto Ramirez (33-0, 24 KOs) Here’s a look at how the earlier prelims shook out (in reverse chronological order).

Just a few passing observations. Bauer and Haney won their fights, improving to 8-0 and 4-0, respectively. Incredibly, each is a mere 17 years old. While Bauer showed some conditioning issues in a six-round points win, Haney, a Vegas product who enjoyed vocal crowd support that filled the near-empty MGM Grand Garden Arena, displayed uncommon poise and robust skills for a teenager making his debut on US soil. One to watch for sure.

We’re considerably less bullish on ringside judge Ricardo Ocasio. The Reno-based arbiter managed to score Ponomarev’s completely one-sided win over Solomon in favor of Solomon by a 96-94 margin, making it a split decision. He should hand in his license at the door.

Updated at 3.52am BST

3.12am BST

Good evening and welcome to the Las Vegas Strip for tonight’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley. It’s the third bout featuring these welterweight rivals, thought not exactly one that fight fans had been clamoring for. The consensus is there’s nothing left to decide between the pair, Pacquiao having won their second fight convincingly after a highly disputed split-decision loss in the first.

For Pacquiao, it’s his first outing since a unanimous-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather 343 days ago. The Filipino aggravated an old shoulder injury that night and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff by Dr Neal ElAttrache, whose patients have included Tom Brady and Kobe Bryant. He was given a clean bill of health in February and here we are. Speaking of the congressman, he arrived at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 5.58pm local time with friends and family in tow. Just a few, per usual.